By Railfan & Railroad Staff
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific has received a $15 million grant from Emissions Reduction Alberta to expand the scope of its pioneering Hydrogen Locomotive Program. The money will enable the railroad to build two more hydrogen-powered locomotives — an additional road locomotive and a switcher — as well as refueling facilities in Calgary and Edmonton.
CP first announced its plans to convert a locomotive to hydrogen power last year and since then it has been working on rebuilding an SD40-2F. Earlier this year, the railroad released a rendering of the cowl unit in a green and gray paint scheme.
“In expanding this groundbreaking project, CP is demonstrating its commitment to combatting climate change through transformative technology,” said CP President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Creel. “I am very pleased that ERA selected this program for a grant and I eagerly anticipate seeing a hydrogen-powered locomotive move CP customer freight in the near future.”
To support hydrogen locomotive operations, the project will include the installation of hydrogen production and fueling facilities at CP yards in Calgary and Edmonton. The Calgary fueling facility will include an electrolysis plant to produce hydrogen from water. This facility will operate on renewable power from solar panels at CP’s headquarters campus and produce zero greenhouse gas emissions. The Edmonton facility includes a small-scale steam methane reformation system that will generate hydrogen from Alberta’s natural gas resources. The system will be constructed to accommodate the possible future addition of greenhouse gas capture equipment.
“Alberta is investing to lead the transition to affordable, reliable and clean energy. CP’s initiative represents a highly compelling opportunity to catalyze the hydrogen economy in Alberta and around the world,” said Steve MacDonald, CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta. “The project will help scale up the technology and bring down the costs of deploying hydrogen to address the critical challenge of decarbonizing the long haul, heavy-freight sector.”
In 2009, BNSF Railway developed a hydrogen-powered switcher, but the technology has remained in its infancy within the rail sector.
